Al-Shabaab reverts to sporadic retaliatory attacks in Somalia after defeat

FILE - Somali soldiers stand at a Somali military base, near the site of an attack by al-Shabab, in Lower Juba, June 13, 2018. The base was the target of another al-Shabab assault Monday.

MOGADISHU, Somalia - General Dayah Abdi, the commander of the Somali Army's Land Forces, is currently in Middle Shabelle within HirShabelle state with mobilization against Al-Shabaab militants intensifying in central Somalia, just as the country goes head-on with the group.

Dayah visited several Forward Operating Bases within Middle Shabelle which is building up as the epicenter of the mobilization against the militants who are dominant in Somalia. On his trip, the commander motivated the army on the frontlines, acknowledging that there is "yet more to do".

For the last two months, the federal government of Somalia has been out against Al-Shabaab militants, while encouraging locals to also take arms against the group which has been fighting to topple the fragile UN-backed federal government of Somalia.

"We know your significant contributions in liberating the rest of Somalia," said the Land Forces commander, who had been a key figure in various units before his elevation to the post. "I have no doubt that you're going to win this war, you only need to put in a little more effort."

He added: "We are doing all we can to ensure you're properly facilitated to face the enemy and cooperation with locals will be key in this journey. Somalia will be protected by patriots like you and I am sure they have lost significant territories in the past, nothing will prevent you from winning."

Recently, at the United Nations General Assembly, Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre confirmed only about 48% of Al-Shabaab strongholds are yet to be liberated from the militants, adding that the group is likely to lose more in coming months due to coordination against them.

While visiting Djibouti, US Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin III lauded Somalia for "significant progress" in the fight against Al-Shabaab, while adding that Washington will closely work with Mogadishu to eliminate the militants. The US, just like the African Union, has been important in the fight against Al-Shabaab.

The Al-Shabaab militants have reverted to sporadic retaliatory attacks mostly targeting innocent civilians and members of security forces across the country. The African Union Transition Mission in Somalia [ATMIS] and the US Africa Command have been working closely with Somali forces to eliminate the militants.

The Somali National Army’s land commander, Dayah Abdi, has inspected the bases on the front lines in the #MiddleShabelle region to see how the troops are prepared and how they are doing.

GAROWE ONLINE